Philetta 283z Radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

electronicskip · 26th Mar 2019, 3:56 pm

Picked up a little Philetta 283z the other day along with a few other radios along the way ,but ive never seen one before and there is absolutely no metion of one on the forum either.

A couple on ebay German sellers along with a few descriptions but that's about it.

Has anyone had any experience of this unit?

Cobaltblue · 26th Mar 2019, 5:00 pm

There were several models of Philetta with very similar appearance

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...3z_bd283u.html

I have a Philetta that looks very similar but its buried in storage so could not tell you the model number off the top of my head I don't recall any particular problems getting it going just the usual Philips stuff

Cheers

Mike T

ronbryan · 26th Mar 2019, 10:27 pm

They run a bit hot on 240V mains, as they are designed for 220V and the case is small. I run my similar 244U Philetta from an auto transformer. They have ERO capacitors that need replacement. Some of the AF coupling capacitors are screened types and it is worth replicating that screening with copper slug tape or similar, to avoid hum pickup. Hum can be a problem and sometimes the main smoothing electrolytic 100+50uF needs replacement. The UCC85 tuner valve may be weak.

Ron

Mike. Watterson · 27th Mar 2019, 10:17 am

You can wire a 20V to 25V transformer to drop the voltage. Connect it wrong and it increases the voltage! Test wiring phase on a meter!

David G4EBT · 27th Mar 2019, 10:24 am

Yes, there are several Philettas who look very similar, may have similar circuitry, and will pose similar restoration challenges.

I bought a BD254U a couple of years ago with a damaged brown Bakelite cabinet which had pieces missing. I restored the cabinet and sprayed it light cream, then set about restoring the set itself, which would have been quite a challenge. As the set is so small, many components are mounted end on. As Ron Bryan says, some of the caps are screened types with three leads, which could be mistaken for two caps in one, but they're not. They're often missing their 'PHILETTA' logo on the front, and with the kind assistance of forum member EddieCE who sourced one for me from a German ebay seller.

The service sheet I found was a bit messy and illegible, so I redrew the whole circuit in two halves. Pic 2 below shows the original LH part of the circuit, pic three shows my re-drawn version.

I found an excellent write-up of a full restoration of a BD254U on internet at the link below, as I don't have the dextrous skills of a cardio-vascular surgeon, I knew it wouldn't be a straightforward task:

http://radiocollection.cmshost.nl/kv...d254u.html?i=3

Pic 4 below shows the caps on the circuit which were recommended for replacement in the restoration notes at the link above.

Pic 5 shows the cabinet after I'd restored it. However, before I got around to restoring the set itself, forum member Al, 'sykospain', who lives in Andalusia put a wanted request for a Philetta on the forum.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...light=Philetta

As a result, my set went to Al who had it professionally restored in Spain, which he later told me involved replacing fifteen caps, twelve resistors and the UL41 output valve. A glance at the underside chassis view below will show what a challenge that was. It went to Al with mixed emotions of sadness and relief on my part, and I was very pleased that Al was able to get it restored and back into use.

Hope that's of interest.

PJC58-Hythe · 27th Mar 2019, 12:26 pm

I have one, a B2D03A which is the same circuit as the B2D13A. I agree with David they are really tricky to work on and they do run very warm.

paulsherwin · 27th Mar 2019, 2:25 pm

Philettas were never made or sold by Philips GB so any you find will have been personal imports. They were popular purchases by British servicemen stationed in Germany - I think there was some sort of tax concession available.

FIXITNOW · 27th Mar 2019, 3:02 pm

I have a 273 on the 2 do pile very similar

kalee20 · 27th Mar 2019, 6:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJC58-Hythe

I have one, a B2D03A which is the same circuit as the B2D13A. I agree with David they are really tricky to work on and they do run very warm.

Just looked at the circuit of this - it actually has a mains transformer and a solid state rectifier!

I have a Philetta LW/MW/FM (can't remember the model number) which has series heaters (U80 series valves) and a dropper. It really does run hot. But it is a good performer and looks great in the dark. And despite being an AC/DC set, it has a pick-up input, activated by pressing two of the piano keys.

It's a horror under the chassis...

Keith · 27th Mar 2019, 6:41 pm

I've got one that's been in pieces in a box for many years - ISTR that the IF cores became detached from their threaded rods. Maybe I'll get a round tuit one day....

David G4EBT · 27th Mar 2019, 7:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Philettas were never made or sold by Philips GB so any you find will have been personal imports. They were popular purchases by British servicemen stationed in Germany - I think there was some sort of tax concession available.

I'm sure that's right.

I mentioned in my earlier post the ones that appeared here were most likely brought back to the UK from Germany by British Service personnel who'd been posted to Germany in their thousands. In 1957 the British Army of the Rhine ('BAOR') numbered 64,000. Between 1958 and 1960, when National Service in the UK came to an end, there were still 55,000 UK service personnel posted there. (I wasn’t one of them – my ‘call-up' for National Service was deferred for three years to enable me to complete my apprenticeship. Conscription ended 25 days before the end of my deferment).

petervk2mlg · 28th Mar 2019, 1:21 am

This thread motivated me to check in my garage and indeed I have a Philetta 254U. German made and in need of restoration.

petervk2mlg · 29th Mar 2019, 1:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbryan

They run a bit hot on 240V mains, as they are designed for 220V and the case is small. I run my similar 244U Philetta from an auto transformer. They have ERO capacitors that need replacement. Some of the AF coupling capacitors are screened types and it is worth replicating that screening with copper slug tape or similar, to avoid hum pickup. Hum can be a problem and sometimes the main smoothing electrolytic 100+50uF needs replacement. The UCC85 tuner valve may be weak.

Ron

Hi Ron,
Can you expand on how you actually effect the screening?
Thanks
Peter

Boater Sam · 29th Mar 2019, 2:22 am

A sleeve of copper slug repellent tape is the easy way, with the earth lead soldered on.

ronbryan · 29th Mar 2019, 11:39 am

I use a trimmed overlapping turn of self-adhesive copper tape, which is available in the UK in about 25mm widths, sold as slug repellant tape as previously mentioned, wrapped around the capacitor. I make a quick soldered connection to the tape, to avoid damaging the capacitor and cover the capacitor, tape and joint with a Hellerman silicone rubber sleeve. A flux pen can speed the soldering process.

I think that adhesive copper sheet and tape is also available for guitar enthusiasts, to use for screening the scratch plate from hum pickup.

Ron

David G4EBT · 29th Mar 2019, 3:21 pm

A continental vintage radio component supplier has 3-lead screened axial caps, albeit the method Ron suggests seems entirely satisfactory:

https://atr-shop.de/axiale-kondensat...schirmung?c=21

petervk2mlg · 29th Mar 2019, 4:11 pm

Thanks to Boater Sam, Ron and David for the clarification.
P

petervk2mlg · 5th Apr 2019, 6:25 am

I decided to check my Philetta 254U over and see if I could get it going.
Initial inspection showed the fuse to be open circuit. Not a good sign, but I replaced it and powered the radio on after a few static checks. The dial lamps lit which was a good sign.
There were some signs of life and very weak distorted reception of my local AM station on 549KHz. A check of the wiring showed someone had been at work before and I noticed some soldering work and disturbed wiring round the control grid of the UL41. The 330K UL41 grid stopper resistor R56 had been bypassed.
I restored the wiring to how it should have been and replaced the key components outlined by David above, yet the weak distorted audio persisted.
At least I had some signs of life on MW and on UKW.
The voltage across the UL41 cathode resistor was very low - only a matter of two or three volts. Perhaps the UL41 is weak I thought and the bypassed grid resistor had been a vain attempt to coax some more gain out of the tube.
I replaced the output tube with a good one and was rewarded with much more volume. A big improvement on FM was effected by a new C72 - 4.7UF electrolytic (positive to chassis).
After replacing the UCH81 and the UABC80 the radio was sounding really good on AM and UKW.
I'm glad I read this thread and got motivated to resurrect my nice little Philetta.

Boater Sam · 5th Apr 2019, 8:48 am

Hope you changed the grid coupling capacitor on the UL41 else soon you will need another!
The slight leakage of this capacitor has wrecked a lot of UL41 valves, they are run quite hard and suffer from grid current all on their own when they have been over-run for a while.
Glad that the output transformer survived this treatment, many don't.

26th Mar 2019, 3:56 pm	#1
electronicskip Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 2,150	Philetta 283z Radio Picked up a little Philetta 283z the other day along with a few other radios along the way ,but ive never seen one before and there is absolutely no metion of one on the forum either. A couple on ebay German sellers along with a few descriptions but that's about it. Has anyone had any experience of this unit? Attached Thumbnails

26th Mar 2019, 5:00 pm	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Philetta 283z Radio There were several models of Philetta with very similar appearance https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...3z_bd283u.html I have a Philetta that looks very similar but its buried in storage so could not tell you the model number off the top of my head I don't recall any particular problems getting it going just the usual Philips stuff Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

26th Mar 2019, 10:27 pm	#3
ronbryan Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,960	Re: Philetta 283z Radio They run a bit hot on 240V mains, as they are designed for 220V and the case is small. I run my similar 244U Philetta from an auto transformer. They have ERO capacitors that need replacement. Some of the AF coupling capacitors are screened types and it is worth replicating that screening with copper slug tape or similar, to avoid hum pickup. Hum can be a problem and sometimes the main smoothing electrolytic 100+50uF needs replacement. The UCC85 tuner valve may be weak. Ron Last edited by ronbryan; 26th Mar 2019 at 10:40 pm.

27th Mar 2019, 10:17 am	#4
Mike. Watterson Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Limerick, Ireland. Posts: 901	Re: Philetta 283z Radio You can wire a 20V to 25V transformer to drop the voltage. Connect it wrong and it increases the voltage! Test wiring phase on a meter!

27th Mar 2019, 10:24 am	#5
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Philetta 283z Radio Yes, there are several Philettas who look very similar, may have similar circuitry, and will pose similar restoration challenges. I bought a BD254U a couple of years ago with a damaged brown Bakelite cabinet which had pieces missing. I restored the cabinet and sprayed it light cream, then set about restoring the set itself, which would have been quite a challenge. As the set is so small, many components are mounted end on. As Ron Bryan says, some of the caps are screened types with three leads, which could be mistaken for two caps in one, but they're not. They're often missing their 'PHILETTA' logo on the front, and with the kind assistance of forum member EddieCE who sourced one for me from a German ebay seller. The service sheet I found was a bit messy and illegible, so I redrew the whole circuit in two halves. Pic 2 below shows the original LH part of the circuit, pic three shows my re-drawn version. I found an excellent write-up of a full restoration of a BD254U on internet at the link below, as I don't have the dextrous skills of a cardio-vascular surgeon, I knew it wouldn't be a straightforward task: http://radiocollection.cmshost.nl/kv...d254u.html?i=3 Pic 4 below shows the caps on the circuit which were recommended for replacement in the restoration notes at the link above. Pic 5 shows the cabinet after I'd restored it. However, before I got around to restoring the set itself, forum member Al, 'sykospain', who lives in Andalusia put a wanted request for a Philetta on the forum. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...light=Philetta As a result, my set went to Al who had it professionally restored in Spain, which he later told me involved replacing fifteen caps, twelve resistors and the UL41 output valve. A glance at the underside chassis view below will show what a challenge that was. It went to Al with mixed emotions of sadness and relief on my part, and I was very pleased that Al was able to get it restored and back into use. Hope that's of interest. Attached Thumbnails __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

27th Mar 2019, 2:25 pm	#7
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Philetta 283z Radio Philettas were never made or sold by Philips GB so any you find will have been personal imports. They were popular purchases by British servicemen stationed in Germany - I think there was some sort of tax concession available.

27th Mar 2019, 3:02 pm	#8
FIXITNOW Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,976	Re: Philetta 283z Radio I have a 273 on the 2 do pile very similar

27th Mar 2019, 6:41 pm	#10
Keith Heptode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 693	Re: Philetta 283z Radio I've got one that's been in pieces in a box for many years - ISTR that the IF cores became detached from their threaded rods. Maybe I'll get a round tuit one day.... __________________ Keith Yates - G3XGW VMARS & BVWS member http://www.tibblestone.com/oldradios/Old_Radios.htm

28th Mar 2019, 1:21 am	#12
petervk2mlg Heptode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Parkes, NSW Australia Posts: 877	Re: Philetta 283z Radio This thread motivated me to check in my garage and indeed I have a Philetta 254U. German made and in need of restoration. Attached Thumbnails

29th Mar 2019, 2:22 am	#14
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Philetta 283z Radio A sleeve of copper slug repellent tape is the easy way, with the earth lead soldered on.

29th Mar 2019, 11:39 am	#15
ronbryan Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,960	Re: Philetta 283z Radio I use a trimmed overlapping turn of self-adhesive copper tape, which is available in the UK in about 25mm widths, sold as slug repellant tape as previously mentioned, wrapped around the capacitor. I make a quick soldered connection to the tape, to avoid damaging the capacitor and cover the capacitor, tape and joint with a Hellerman silicone rubber sleeve. A flux pen can speed the soldering process. I think that adhesive copper sheet and tape is also available for guitar enthusiasts, to use for screening the scratch plate from hum pickup. Ron

29th Mar 2019, 3:21 pm	#16
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Philetta 283z Radio A continental vintage radio component supplier has 3-lead screened axial caps, albeit the method Ron suggests seems entirely satisfactory: https://atr-shop.de/axiale-kondensat...schirmung?c=21 __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

29th Mar 2019, 4:11 pm	#17
petervk2mlg Heptode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Parkes, NSW Australia Posts: 877	Re: Philetta 283z Radio Thanks to Boater Sam, Ron and David for the clarification. P

5th Apr 2019, 6:25 am	#18
petervk2mlg Heptode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Parkes, NSW Australia Posts: 877	Re: Philetta 283z Radio I decided to check my Philetta 254U over and see if I could get it going. Initial inspection showed the fuse to be open circuit. Not a good sign, but I replaced it and powered the radio on after a few static checks. The dial lamps lit which was a good sign. There were some signs of life and very weak distorted reception of my local AM station on 549KHz. A check of the wiring showed someone had been at work before and I noticed some soldering work and disturbed wiring round the control grid of the UL41. The 330K UL41 grid stopper resistor R56 had been bypassed. I restored the wiring to how it should have been and replaced the key components outlined by David above, yet the weak distorted audio persisted. At least I had some signs of life on MW and on UKW. The voltage across the UL41 cathode resistor was very low - only a matter of two or three volts. Perhaps the UL41 is weak I thought and the bypassed grid resistor had been a vain attempt to coax some more gain out of the tube. I replaced the output tube with a good one and was rewarded with much more volume. A big improvement on FM was effected by a new C72 - 4.7UF electrolytic (positive to chassis). After replacing the UCH81 and the UABC80 the radio was sounding really good on AM and UKW. I'm glad I read this thread and got motivated to resurrect my nice little Philetta.

5th Apr 2019, 8:48 am	#19
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Philetta 283z Radio Hope you changed the grid coupling capacitor on the UL41 else soon you will need another! The slight leakage of this capacitor has wrecked a lot of UL41 valves, they are run quite hard and suffer from grid current all on their own when they have been over-run for a while. Glad that the output transformer survived this treatment, many don't.